TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Colorado!
TheMadCatter’s 2022 Adventure Thread
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TheMadCatter
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Wanted to push myself today and explore new country. We had unconfirmed reports of some of our Rams summering on a couple of backcountry peaks (last season, not this season). I decided to saddle up the four wheeler and lace up the Kennetreks and give it a go! Walked 1,600’ up the first ridge and spotted a 1/2 curl Ram, but, forget my spotter and had to go back down and get it. The Ram I spotted first was gone when I got back up, lots of little 50’ drops to hide in!
I hiked my 1,600’ then walked up the other two peaks with only a couple hundred feet climb. Lots of ridge walking!
After hitting the second peak I noticed a couple of critters, I thought they were Elk at first. Glassed them up from about a Mile away and noticed they were Bighorn Rams! They ended up letting me get super close, about 20 yards at one point. I snapped a couple pictures through the spotter. They let me hang with them on the Mountain side for three hours before a thunderstorm started rolling our way. I packed up and ran off the mountain back to the four wheeler and made it just in time for it to downpour the entire ride out.
I hiked my 1,600’ then walked up the other two peaks with only a couple hundred feet climb. Lots of ridge walking!
After hitting the second peak I noticed a couple of critters, I thought they were Elk at first. Glassed them up from about a Mile away and noticed they were Bighorn Rams! They ended up letting me get super close, about 20 yards at one point. I snapped a couple pictures through the spotter. They let me hang with them on the Mountain side for three hours before a thunderstorm started rolling our way. I packed up and ran off the mountain back to the four wheeler and made it just in time for it to downpour the entire ride out.
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TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Well, since the Euro is down so much I decided to book another Muskox/Caribou hunt for 2023 and pray I don't lose my deposit this time. This will be my only planned hunting trip for 2023 unless a miracle of a Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose tag happens.
Returning my Colorado Mule Deer 4th season tag to put some more money toward the hunt and save. I'll only be hunting Sheep in Colorado and Elk/Deer in Wyoming.
Returning my Colorado Mule Deer 4th season tag to put some more money toward the hunt and save. I'll only be hunting Sheep in Colorado and Elk/Deer in Wyoming.
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Those Rams were in the Badlands, these were in Montana. The Ewes, Lambs, and the Rams in the other Mountain Range run from us whenever we’re within 1/4-1/2 mile of them! These Rams (Montana ones on the opposite Mountain Range) just let me stay within a couple yards of them.
I don’t know what makes them more or less spooked. These Rams don’t even see people until November rut. So, I have no clue why they’re so tame or if it’s completely normal.
sep0667
Land of the Whitetail
If the ones in CO are anything like those it might be a real quick hunt!
Ishi
PMA Member
During our 2018 trip to Glacier National Park we hired a guide to take a 45 minute boat ride to Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake. As we were about to land the guide spotted this group of rams so we scaled the cliffs to get photos! Sheep are amazing animals!
On the other side of the island there was over 100 Ewes and lambs
A couple years ago they found the new world record Ram dead on the island…… could be the big guy in the photo?
Keep the updates coming on the hunt Josh!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
On the other side of the island there was over 100 Ewes and lambs
A couple years ago they found the new world record Ram dead on the island…… could be the big guy in the photo?
Keep the updates coming on the hunt Josh!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Will do! My last day working in Montana is August 22nd, I want a couple days before season to scout and become familiar with the area since I’ve only driven by it. It’s only a Ewe tag, I forgot to mention that! But, I’m still Sheep hunting. One of these years I’m going to have to try the Montana Unlimited Sheep hunt and try to find a Ram there. After this job I feel like I’m qualified to find Sheep just about anywhere and can make the extreme hikes and long glasses. I wish I had the Unlimited tag this year and regret not putting in for it.During our 2018 trip to Glacier National Park we hired a guide to take a 45 minute boat ride to Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake. As we were about to land the guide spotted this group of rams so we scaled the cliffs to get photos! Sheep are amazing animals!
On the other side of the island there was over 100 Ewes and lambs
A couple years ago they found the new world record Ram dead on the island…… could be the big guy in the photo?
Keep the updates coming on the hunt Josh!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That’s 100% the world record too. I saw him (or a replica) in the Schnee’s store in Bozeman a couple days and go and it looks just like him.
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
People in Illinois keep posting pictures of deer we tagged this fall. Pretty neat to see them now!
Been super busy working non-stop! Got trail cameras out in Iowa the other day. Have some crazy news I can’t wait to share with everybody, but, I can’t until November. Uploading a Grayling fishing video right now to YouTube I’ll share when it finishes.
Been super busy working non-stop! Got trail cameras out in Iowa the other day. Have some crazy news I can’t wait to share with everybody, but, I can’t until November. Uploading a Grayling fishing video right now to YouTube I’ll share when it finishes.
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
It was! Only two and a half more weeks and I'll be busy hunting again.
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Wyoming Shed Hunting 2022 Part 1
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Ended up getting my Bighorn Sheep Ewe opening day! It’ll probably be one of the biggest taken in the state in a while.
I spent Tuesday night, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday scouting. I was able to find Sheep Wednesday and Friday. I chalk most of my good luck from finding a random lit kitty at a gas station before the hunt.
Tuesday night I got to the first ridge before setting up camp and found a couple Elk, but, no Bighorn.
Wednesday I hiked 10.7 miles out and gained over 4,800’ of Elevation walking up and down the mountains! I found a herd of 44 Sheep on the private including a discolored faced Ewe and she was going to be my target.
Thursday I saw over 100 Elk on the ridges, but, no Bighorn Sheep!
Friday I spotted a group of 7 in the morning on public and then another group of 5 and 10 on the public. This got me excited for opener! My buddy’s Leo, Harley, and Landon showed up from Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska to help me out! A thunderstorm rolled in right after they got their camp setup and it was windy all night.
Saturday we wake up to lots of wind and clouds blowing over! We started hiking around 2am and Leo and Harley weren’t able to keep up with me and Landon. We took off up the next couple Mountains and on the way I lost my Vortex Fury binoculars! I still had my range finder, but, Landon had his Fury’s and elected to range for me. We couldn’t see anything unless there was a small break in the clouds once in a while. We were able to glass up two Ewes and a Ram Yearling up on the ridge I saw the 5 the night before. They were 500 METERS (I’ll explain later) away about the max I wanted to shoot a Sheep at. I decided to pass them knowing there might be more around the next Mountain. We hiked up 800’ to the other Mountain and sat there for a bit. I saw the three start coming our way. The clouds were awful! I setup and decided to pass them at 124 METERS. They started to walk toward the private and the clouds started to clear, we were able to see everything around us. No Sheep! Not even on the private! I decided at that moment I wanted to shoot the big Ewe in this bunch because it would probably be my chance (since Landon had to leave Sunday night). He ranged it 420 METERS I dailed my scope and shot under her about 5” not know what the heck happened! She then comes to 380 METERS and I dial down and shoot again. I hit her back right leg as she’s quartering toward me, low again! I then take a third shot at 380 METERS and shoot her flank as she’s quartering toward me, couldn’t believe it! I was just shooting 600 yards 6” groups the day before. She bedded down and I decided to dial up further because my shots were all low and smoked her! I was frustrated but so excited! As we started to walk down to the Sheep Landon says “Wait, you shoot yards?” I said “Duh, who doesn’t?” Blank expression from Landon says he does. Turns out he was feeding me Meters instead of Yards and that’s why I was shooting low. Glad it worked out though! When we got down to her and I saw how big she really was I couldn’t believe it! We ended up hiking a long ways out and ended the day with over 12 miles and 5,800’ climbed!
I have her at 12 5/8” and 12 3/8” which beats out last years biggest at 10 7/8 and 11 1/8 by quite a bit! She had no bottom teeth left and no lamb with her besides her last years Ram Yearling.
I spent Tuesday night, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday scouting. I was able to find Sheep Wednesday and Friday. I chalk most of my good luck from finding a random lit kitty at a gas station before the hunt.
Tuesday night I got to the first ridge before setting up camp and found a couple Elk, but, no Bighorn.
Wednesday I hiked 10.7 miles out and gained over 4,800’ of Elevation walking up and down the mountains! I found a herd of 44 Sheep on the private including a discolored faced Ewe and she was going to be my target.
Thursday I saw over 100 Elk on the ridges, but, no Bighorn Sheep!
Friday I spotted a group of 7 in the morning on public and then another group of 5 and 10 on the public. This got me excited for opener! My buddy’s Leo, Harley, and Landon showed up from Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska to help me out! A thunderstorm rolled in right after they got their camp setup and it was windy all night.
Saturday we wake up to lots of wind and clouds blowing over! We started hiking around 2am and Leo and Harley weren’t able to keep up with me and Landon. We took off up the next couple Mountains and on the way I lost my Vortex Fury binoculars! I still had my range finder, but, Landon had his Fury’s and elected to range for me. We couldn’t see anything unless there was a small break in the clouds once in a while. We were able to glass up two Ewes and a Ram Yearling up on the ridge I saw the 5 the night before. They were 500 METERS (I’ll explain later) away about the max I wanted to shoot a Sheep at. I decided to pass them knowing there might be more around the next Mountain. We hiked up 800’ to the other Mountain and sat there for a bit. I saw the three start coming our way. The clouds were awful! I setup and decided to pass them at 124 METERS. They started to walk toward the private and the clouds started to clear, we were able to see everything around us. No Sheep! Not even on the private! I decided at that moment I wanted to shoot the big Ewe in this bunch because it would probably be my chance (since Landon had to leave Sunday night). He ranged it 420 METERS I dailed my scope and shot under her about 5” not know what the heck happened! She then comes to 380 METERS and I dial down and shoot again. I hit her back right leg as she’s quartering toward me, low again! I then take a third shot at 380 METERS and shoot her flank as she’s quartering toward me, couldn’t believe it! I was just shooting 600 yards 6” groups the day before. She bedded down and I decided to dial up further because my shots were all low and smoked her! I was frustrated but so excited! As we started to walk down to the Sheep Landon says “Wait, you shoot yards?” I said “Duh, who doesn’t?” Blank expression from Landon says he does. Turns out he was feeding me Meters instead of Yards and that’s why I was shooting low. Glad it worked out though! When we got down to her and I saw how big she really was I couldn’t believe it! We ended up hiking a long ways out and ended the day with over 12 miles and 5,800’ climbed!
I have her at 12 5/8” and 12 3/8” which beats out last years biggest at 10 7/8 and 11 1/8 by quite a bit! She had no bottom teeth left and no lamb with her besides her last years Ram Yearling.
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bigbuckhunter88
PMA Member
Congrats. Did ya go back and get the Furys?
TheMadCatter
Well-Known Member
Hunter: Elk Took Hours To Die Because Wyoming Rancher Wouldn’t Grant Trespass
An Iowa hunter said he had to live every hunter's worst nightmare as had to spend hours watching a bull hed shot die because he couldnt get permission to go 20 yards onto private land where the bull had fled.
cowboystatedaily.com
sep0667
Land of the Whitetail
So the rancher just let it go to waste?Hunter: Elk Took Hours To Die Because Wyoming Rancher Wouldn’t Grant Trespass
An Iowa hunter said he had to live every hunter's worst nightmare as had to spend hours watching a bull hed shot die because he couldnt get permission to go 20 yards onto private land where the bull had fled.
